 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ed Lowry
Date: 2020-06-23 01:59
I have a Selmer 37 Bass manufactured in 1988 which I like very much. I've been playing it a bit more lately, and notice that the ![[Gb4]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/gb4.gif) when played with the LH index finger is a bit stuffy; when played with thumb and two side keys, it's very nice. Is this endemic with the instrument, or is it worth having work done?
Post Edited (2020-06-23 22:39)
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2020-06-23 02:52
Yeah it's an easy fix. Either have the key cork on the thumb key sanded a bit or if that doesn't work have a tech raise the key height. Many bass clarinets tend to have the pad height set too low causing this note to be stuffy.
-Jdbassplayer
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Author: Ed Lowry
Date: 2020-06-23 22:39
Great and thanks. I'll have my tech look it over as soon as he gets out of quarantine.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2020-06-24 02:20
Attachment: P5210002.JPG (684k)
Attachment: P6050006.JPG (677k)
Attachment: P6030001 (1).JPG (683k)
Open up the venting on the LH thumb key (as well as the LH1 and open G vent accordingly) and that will clear up the F#.
I fit a cork pad in all those three pad cups as they won't sag in the middles like leather pads can (unless you stitch them) and have also hollowed out the centre of them to further increase the venting.
Shortening or reshaping the top side of thumb key foot to alter the leverages will allow more opening of the thumb pad while still keeping the venting of LH1 good but not excessive.
The first image is an X series Selmer bass, the other two are a Jupiter.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2020-06-24 02:24)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2020-06-26 12:34
Johan H Nilsson wrote:
> Interesting solution, Chris. Most bass clarinets suffer from
> this problem.
As well as lack of understanding by some repairers who overlook the importance of good venting. Some makers are also largely to blame.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2020-06-27 02:27
All factory new Buffets I have tried (Prestige and Tosca) have had and ![[G4]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/g4.gif) tones that tend to be flat and/or are hissing.
Post Edited (2020-06-27 11:32)
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Author: Ed Lowry
Date: 2020-06-29 02:55
Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions. I did sand down the cork and it had a noticeably good effect. I find the solution with pad cups (with pictures) very intriguing. Beyond my expertise, certainly. At some point I may opt for it done by a pro.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2020-06-29 10:35
Attachment: P5210007.JPG (713k)
Attachment: P5210008.JPG (676k)
I also opened up RH3 to give a nice clean low register A as well as allowing the lower 8ve vent to open fully when in the lower part of the upper register.
And another thing was soft soldering a 6mm tall pillar to the bell socket to keep the bell key link raised when the bell is off the instrument. Otherwise the bell key opens fully and can get mashed up by the link on the lower joint if the pad cup isn't held closed during assembly.
Out of curiosity, has anyone replaced that bell key link with a roller like the low C roller on flutes? I might try that on my Buffet bass to see if it makes the action fell better by reducing the friction.
Excuse the 'Live Aid' look of the photos with all the stripes - I dropped my camera and also damaged the aperture which is why the exposure is wrong. A few sharp taps against a table when it was switched on seems to have put it right again.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2020-06-29 10:42)
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Author: ebonite
Date: 2020-06-29 11:42
Attachment: new_selmer3.jpg (334k)
Chris P wrote:
>
> Out of curiosity, has anyone replaced that bell key link with a
> roller like the low C roller on flutes? I might try that on my
> Buffet bass to see if it makes the action fell better by
> reducing the friction.
>
Not specifically on the bell key, but Peter Worrell used flute-style rollers on some of the linkages when he converted my Selmer to a low-c instrument (see picture)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2020-06-30 01:00
Very tidy!
I've only seen his early convertible low C extensions - one made for a B&H Imperial bass and another made for a Selmer CT era bass.
I like the idea of the recent Buffet Prestige basses having the option of being built to low D with a removable extension to convert it to a low C one. That could be done on any bass built to low Eb with all the keywork on the body, or converted to a low D one by adding a thumb key and bell key to close the bell vent.
Another thing I thought that could be done to help the F# is having a perforated LH thumbplate with an offset hole in it like the RH1 fingerplate on Buffet basset horns to help clear up lower register B with the standard fingering (xxx|oxo), but that might not suit everyone and cause leaks when using the speaker key if it can't be covered.
The other thing is adding an extra vent hole below the thumb F# tonehole, again as seen on Buffet basset horns as that compensates for LH1 being closed with the regular F# fingering - the vent hole in question being on the back and directly opposite the LH1 (F/C) tonehole. The thumb F# tonehole diameter can be reduced and a smaller diameter plate can be used if that was done.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2020-06-30 02:01)
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